Hi,
Caught these two last Wednesday. Thought I knew what they were, but now I'm not too sure, especially the first.
Cabbage Moth?

I'm happier with this one, Flounced Rustic?

Thanks,
Robin

I would have both of those as Dusky Brocade.

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Ian M

Flounced Rustic = not before end July, Robin. I suspect that the grey circles (which indicate occasional records) in May and June on the Hantsmoths page for this species are due to erroneous identifications that haven't been deleted from the county database.

M

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Please visit the Hantsmoths website at http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk

Thanks for the id Ian.
Mike - thought it was very early for the Flounced Rustic, but quite a few species have been very early this year. Anyway I'm glad it turned out to be a Dark Rustic as that's a lifer for me.
It makes me wonder how many more of these I have missed. Mind you in WT&L the illustrations for Dark Brocade and Flounced Rustic are indistinguishable to my poor eyes.
Cheers,
Robin

I like the title of this thread because now I'm completely baffled. Dark Rustic?! Dark Brocade is a bit different to your moths, the jagged subterminal line of that species is absent on these. Dusky Brocade is quite variable and both of your moths are fine for that.

Hope that helps

Ian

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Ian M

As Ian says, they're both Dusky Brocade, Robin: Dark Brocade is a very rare moth in Hants (more often claimed than proved!). Flounced Rustic is a firm end of summer species, a record in early to mid June would be unlikely - Tim and I are embarking on the very long process of going through every species on the database and 'evicting' spurious, unsubstantiated records, and that would include the one or two May and June reports for Flounced Rustic that exist.

Mike

_________________
Please visit the Hantsmoths website at http://www.hantsmoths.org.uk

Told you I was confused